Kasane! (Pictures)

July 13th, Day 32:

We awoke around 530am to my dismay, but Aaron really wanted to get some footage for the documentary and I obliged. It was completely dark outside when we got on the road, not to mention pretty freezing outside so you could say I was not in the best of moods on this Monday morning. However, things changed as the sun came up, and we encountered a number of animals and an incredible view of the sun rising, both of which Jon filmed as we rode by so I credit Aaron for making me get up and having this experience. Yes, Aaron was right this time, only this time.

On our way to Kasane, which was only about 60 kilometers away, we ran into a bunch of giraffes and a few living elephants that were enjoying an early morning snack. Fortunately for us, the elephants were more occupied with their food and let us pass without giving us any trouble. As we rode on the grass became taller and taller, and I thought every movement was going to be a lion jumping out and attacking us, but luckily that situation never occurred and we were able to arrive in Kasane on time, and ready for a day off and some safari action in Chobe National Park.

We arrived in Kasane around 1pm, and went to the tourism board office to say hi, and check base with them. We were supposed to do an interview for BTV, but no one at the office knew about it, a case of bad communication, but luckily they called over to the office and sent a reporter over. We waited for about ten minutes until a reporter showed up from the Daily News, the Botswana government newspaper, who interviewed us and said we would be in the paper in a week or so...

We were too excited for the day off and going around Chobe National Park to be disappointed that BTV did not show up, so departed the tourism office for the hotel. Luckily for us, Aaron's brother Jon was treating us to a stay at amazing hotel, the Mowana Safari Lodge. This was definitely not anything we had stayed in so far during our journey so we were thrilled that we could relax at such a beautiful complex.

We also managed to find time to drive into the park, which turned out to be an incredible experience as we literally did not go five minutes without running into an animal or multiple animals. The pictures below show some of the animals we encountered, but do not do justice the scene along the Chobe river where hundreds of animals were just hanging out and relaxing amongst themselves. This was really a breathtaking scene, and I would recommend Chobe National Park to anyone who really wants to come to Africa and see a lot of animals and gorgeous scenary.

After the amazing safari, we were starving for some food, and the dinner buffet at the lodge definitely sufficed to our appetites. They had all sorts of dishes and I think I went back at least three or four times to fill my plate with food. Everything was great at the buffet, except the music choice was pretty bizarre and we could not help wondering whose choice this was and why. The selection was a local man on a piano, but he was playing all these old American songs that we had not heard in years. He seemed to be pretty happy singing, but we wondered why they decorated the lodge with all sorts of animals and African cultural items, yet the music choice was strictly American. Luckily the food was great and we chowed down for some time before we went back to the room and dosed off. We had a 530am wake up call again as we were going on another safari, and I definitely needed my beauty sleep.

-Eric